L. VIVES.
(a) ALba,] There were many Alba's: one in Spaine, called also Virgao. Another in that part of France called Prouence, a towne of the Heluii. A third in Italy, by the Lake * 1.1 Fucinus, now called Lago di Marso, or Lago di Celaeno, &c. A fourth in Lombardy called Pom∣peia. The fift vpon Mount Albanus, called Alba Longa. And Rome (not onely that which Romulus built) was a collony of the Albanes brought out by Romulus and Remus: but many thinke that the old Rome also, that was long before, was built by Romulus, Aeneas his sonne: which being at length through pestilence and often inuasion left desolate, was by the Albans (pitying the inhabitants cases) restored, and diuerse of them sent to repaire and people it. (b) Three bretheren,] (Liu lib. 1.) It is commonly knowne that Metius Suffetius the Dicta∣tor of Alba, counselled and agreed with Tullus the King of Rome, to take a course to saue the liues of so many innocent people on both sides, and to haue the controuersie decided by a few onely: so making a league, sixe men were appointed to fight for both the states soueraign∣ties. Now there were three bretheren in either armie, these were turned together into the lists, and whose side conquered, that people should bee soueraigne. (c) Besides,] Saint Augustine may be his owne comment herein, hee tells it so plaine. (d) Bewayling him] Lau•…•…us, Mezen∣tius his sonne, Aeneid 10. (e) Cyrus] There were two Cyri the greater, meant here, Conqueror of Asiae, Scythia, and all the East, reigning in the time of Tarquin the proud. Hee tooke Craesus * 1.2 the ritch King of Lydia: but by Tomiris Queene of Scythia, himselfe was taken, beheaded, and his head souced in a tubbe of bloud, to satisfie his cruell thirst. Plutarch, Strabo, Trogus, Herodotus, &c. Herodotus calleth him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the great King. And there-vpon the other Persian Kings are vsually so stiled. The other was Cyrus the lesser, sonne to Darius, bro∣ther * 1.3 to Artaxerxes, whose iourney into Persia, Xenophon wrote. (f) Doe neuer passe] With crownes hung all with labells and pendants. (g) Amphitheater] The Theater was like halfe a circle, the Amphitheater like a full circle: it was strowed with Sand, and there the Fencers * 1.4 fought. (h) Was vtterly] Liu. In the first Veian warre, when Metius of Alba stood as neuter with his armie, and would not helpe Tullus according to the conditions of the league, Tullus made him be drawne in peeces with horses, destroied Alba, & remoued all the Albans to Rome.